Tobacco-leaf-stripping machine.



F. I. BlLLINGS & F. C. SCHOFIELD.

TOBACCO LEAF STRIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men NOV.3.1914.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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' Bede oi CiScigi'eZd, jzjwz/mgmmm% F. I. BILLINGS &-F. C. SCHOFIELD.

TOBACCO LEAF STRIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 19M. 1,212,441.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917'.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FREDERICK I. BILLINGS AND FREDERICK C. SCHOFIELD, OF BALTIMORE, MABYLAND.

TOBACCO-LEAF-STRIPPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 1917.

Application filed November 3, 1914. Serial No. 870,123.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FREDERICK I. BILL- INGS and FREDERICK C. SCHOFIELD, citlzens of the United States, residing at Baltimore,

Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Leaf- Stripping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to tobacco stripping machines, and particularly to a mechanism for removing the leaf blade ad acent one end of the stem, and more particularly the blade portion of the leaf adhering to the thickened or butt end of the stem, and its object is to provide a mechanism which is particularly simple and durable in construction and highly efficient in operation.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; Fig. 4 is an end view showing a slightly modified form of roll, and Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a sl1ghtly modified arrangement of the stripping teeth of the roll. 7

The mechanism embodies, generally, a stripping roll non-circular, or substantially elliptical, in cross section, such roll being associated with a companion roller which is preferably of substantially correspond ng shape in cross section, the two rolls belng relatively so set that at one point in their revolution they will assume positions with the major transverse axis of one disposed substantially at right angles to the corresponding axis of the other. Each roll is preferably provided with a plurality of spaced-apart coils of card clothing, the latter preferably being arranged-in spiral formation with the coils of one roll inclined in ,a reverse direction to the coils of the other. The invention includes also, generally, the arrangement of the rolls so that the operative ends of the teeth of one will be separated from the corresponding ends of the teeth of the other, but located su fficiently contiguous thereto for properly engaging the tobacco leaf fed between the same.

In the illustrated embodiment of the in vention, reference being had particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the upper roll is designated 1 and the lower roll 2. As illustrated, the rolls are duplicates save that the coil of card clothing and the channel for receiving the same of the roll 1 is inclined in a reverse directionto that of the other.

Preferably each roll includes a barrel or drum having a bore with portions of unequal diameters, between two of Which a shoulder 3 is formed, and the periphery of the roll is provided with a wide channel 4 extending spirally thereof and with its convolutions separated material distances from one another. The strip of card clothing associated with each roll has its base, or-

body, portion retained in the channel 4, and its teeth, which are relatively heavy, extending outwardly and preferably inclined rearwardly, as shown. Each drum is preferably connected to a shaft 6 journaled in a fixed bearing 7 and carrying at one end a driving gear 8 and at its adjacent end a shoulder 9 for coacting with the shoulder 3, and a threaded portion for receiving a clamping nut 10. As shown, the stationary bearing 7 projects within the portion of the bore of the drum of largest diameter. d

The rolls 1, 2, are preferably driven in unison, but in reverse directions, by. gearing engaging the aforesaid gears 8, and are initially so set that the major transverse axis of one roll is disposed at right angles to the corresponding axis of the other, and with the outer ends of the teeth of one roll separated by a'narrow space from the corresponding ends of the teeth of the other roll.

As will be understood, the details of construction of the rolls and driving mechanism therefor may be materially modified from that herein'illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of our invention. The rolls may also be of a cross sectional shape other than a true ellipse. For instance, they may be of the cross sectional shape illustrated in Fig. 4, or of any other selected non-circular cross sectional shape which will provide as to one of the rolls an extended or long operative portion which will be brought into and out of engagement with the stem under treatment. The teeth of the roll may also be arranged other than spirally thereof; for instance, they may be disposed in the form of a plurality of spaced-apart non-spirally arranged coils, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the operation of the described mechanism the rolls are preferably driven at a high speed, say, 2,500 revolutions per minute, and the tobacco leaves are fed through between the same in a direction substantially parallel to the longer axes thereof. This feeding may be accomplished either by mechanical means or manually, and is assisted by the spiral arrangement of the teeth. The leaves, during their passage between the rolls, are alternately brought into contact with the extended operative portion of first one roll and then the other, when the two are substantially duplicates and arranged as shown in the accompanying drawings, this action serving for stripping the blade of the leaf from a comparatively large part of the length of the stem.

The described mechanism is primarily intended to be used in association with a secondary mechanism for removing the leaf blade from the portions of the stem which are not acted upon by the described mechanism.

We claim as our invention 1. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a pair of stripping rolls, one of said rolls having a substantially continuous leaf-engaging surface, said continuous surface at different points about the axis of rotation being disposed at different distances from the said axis.

2. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a pair of stripping rolls each having a substantially continuous leaf-engaging surface which at different points about the axis upon which it turns, lies at different distances from said axis, and means for driving the rolls.

3. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a stripping roll having a substantially continuous leaf-engaging surface, said surface being provided by the outer ends of peripheral teeth arranged in spaced-apart coils, and said surface at different points about the axis of rotation being at different distances from said axis.

4:. In a leaf stripping machine and in com: bination a stripping roll having a substantially continuous leaf-engaging surface made up of curved sections having no common center from which they are struck, substantially as described.

In a leaf stripping machine and in combination a pair of stripping rolls each having a substantially continuous leaf-engaging surface which at different points about the axis upon which it turns, lies at different distances from said axis, said rolls being so relatively disposed that at one point in the revolution of said rolls the point of greatest distance on one roll will be substantially opposite the point of least distance on the other roll, substantially as described.

6. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a stripping roll substantially elliptical in cross section and provided peripherally with teeth arranged in spaced-apart coils.

7. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a pair of rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a substantially continuous leaf-engaging surface, including an elongated stripping portion which elongated portion is carried into and out of engagement with the stem under treatment.

8. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a pair of stripping rolls each provided with a leaf-engaging surface, substantially unbroken peripherally thereof, each unbroken leaf-engaging surface including comparatively short and long stripping portions for engaging the leaf under treatment,

the rolls being set so that the shorter strip ping portion of one roll engages with the leaf during the engagement thereof by the longer stripping portion of the other roll.

9. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a pair of stripping rolls substantially elliptical in cross section and provided with peripheral teeth, and means for driving the rolls.

10. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a pair of stripping rolls substantially elliptical in cross section and so set relatively to each other that at one point in their revolution they will assume positions with the major transverse axis of one disposed at substantially right angles to the corresponding axis of the other, said rolls being provided with peripheral teeth, and means for driving the rolls.

11. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a stripping roll substantially elliptical in cross section and provided peripherally with a spirally disposed row of teeth.

12. In a leaf stripping machine and in combination, a stripping roll substantially elliptical in cross section and provided peripherally with a strip of card clothing spirally disposed and with the convolutions thereof separated from one another.

13. In a stripping mechanism and in combination, companion stripping rolls elliptical in cross section and provided peripherally with spirally disposed rows of teeth, said rolls being so set relatively to each other that at one point in their revolution they will assume positions with the major transverse axis of one at right angles to the corresponding axis of the other, and with the adjacent portion of the teeth separated to provide a narrow space therebetween, and means for driving the rolls in reverse direction in unison.

14. In a leaf stripping mechanism and in and a fixed bearing for the shaft, said bearcombination, a stripping roll comprising a ing extending within the portion of the bore drum having a bore with portions thereof of the drum of largest diameter.

of dissimilar diameters, and a channel in its In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- 5 periphery spirally disposed and with its contures in presence of two witnesses.

volutions separated substantial distances FREDERICK I. BILLINGS. from one another, a strip of card clothing I FREDERICK C. SCHOFIELD. having its body portion located in said chan- Witnesses: nel and teeth extending outwardly, a shaft W. J. MARSHALL, 10 having the drum detachably secured thereto, ELEANOR DUVAL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

